Guernsey retain both inter-insular trophies

GUERNSEY retained the senior doubles inter-insular title with a hard-fought 13-11 victory at Caesarean Tennis Club. The teams were tied at 8-8 going into the concluding mixed doubles, but the Sarnians came away with five wins from those eight matches to inflict a fourth straight defeat on Jersey.

Once again, Guernsey proved to have the stronger men's pairings with Jersey better in the women's section.

'This is the fourth year we've lost to Guernsey, so it's about time we turned it around,' said Jersey team manager Ian Morgan. 'We easily beat them in the ladies' doubles but Guernsey had three very strong men's pairs.'

The Guernsey B team just managed to retain their trophy with a 12all draw at St Martin's Tennis Club.

The only male pairing to win were Andy Hart and Quinton Rose who recorded straight-sets victories.

The women's doubles saw Guernsey win 5-3 with two rubbers from Vicky Evans and Margaret Le Page and a win apiece for Sue de Garis and Maimie Noon and Tina Loveridge and Denny Griffiths.

The junior pairing of Jo Dyer and Megan Hearse achieved their first win in their first senior inter-insular.

Guernsey were 9-7 down but won four of the first five mixed matches. Straight-sets mixed wins were recorded by Hart and Noon, Rose and de Garis, Grant Bewey and Dyer and Paul Garrard and Evans.

With the match all square at 11-11 it was down to Loveridge and Martin Locke to ease the tension.

Their 10-8 win in the tiebreak guaranteed the trophy would stay in Guernsey.